Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde – a flammable, colorless gas with a pungent odor – is an air toxic known to cause cancer in humans, especially in the nasal region and upper respiratory tract. Studies on animals indicate that formaldehyde exposure is linked to brain tumors, leukemia, lymphomas, and lung cancer. Formaldehyde also acts as an asthma trigger in humans and is a suspected liver, reproductive and neurotoxicant ^[1].

Formaldehyde occurs naturally, but is also produced in the laboratory for use in consumer products. In fact it is ranked in the top 25 among the 50 highest volume chemicals in the United States ^[2]. Formaldehyde is used in the production of paper, plywood, particle board and adhesives. It has a wide range of additional uses – from household products such as antiseptics, medicines and cosmetics to food preservatives, pesticides and as an agent in tobacco products. In addition, automobile exhaust, diesel and airplane engines, incinerators, and chemical smog all release formaldehyde into our air ^[2].

People are exposed to formaldehyde primarily by breathing air contaminated by the products and sources mentioned above. For example, furniture constructed from pressed composite wood products like plywood gives off formaldehyde gas for up to five years after being manufactured. People are exposed during and after applying certain paints, floor finishes, household cleaners and carpet glue. People may also be exposed to formaldehyde by wearing cosmetics (some, like nail polish, can emit high levels of formaldehyde when wet) and by wearing certain fabrics like wrinkle-free clothing that is produced with formaldehyde-generating resins.

Multnomah, Clackamas, and Washington counties are all in the top five percent for outdoor formaldehyde exposure concentrations nationwide ^[3].

In 2002, Oregon had the fourth largest industry releases of formaldehyde in the nation with 901,697 pounds of formaldehyde released into the air and water ^[4]. Lane, Jackson, Linn, and Douglas counties alone accounted for nearly 80% of Oregon’s industrial releases of formaldehyde that year, the leader being Lane County, which was responsible for 247,485 pounds of emissions. Within Oregon, timber product companies and resin production companies release the most formaldehyde into our air ^[5].

Thousands of products containing formaldehyde are sold in Oregon. To reduce Oregonians’ exposure to formaldehyde, we must promote alternatives and reduce key avenues of exposure, such as indoor exposure to “off-gassing” furniture.

Public policy solutions that will protect us all:

• Require more stringent air quality controls on wood, paper and resin production facilities.
• When you’re in the market for a new car, purchase a super ultra low emission vehicle (SULEV) or partial zero emission vehicle (PZEV). All vehicles have a label under-the-hood that identifies the emission standard. The clean car standards will reduce emissions of formaldehyde from new passenger cars and light duty trucks starting with the 2009 model year.
  
• Raise awareness of the health implications associated with wood burning.
  
• Create incentives for builders to use formaldehyde-free building materials.
  

What you can do to protect yourself:

• Select wood products that do not contain formaldehyde. Solid wood or antique wood furniture are better choices. The Medite Corporation in Medford makes formaldehyde-free fiber board (using woodchips and dust left after milling) for use in home interiors. And Columbia Forest Products has developed formaldehyde-free plywood and particleboard using PureBond™.
  
• Avoid products that contain formaldehyde, urea formaldehyde (UF) or phenol formaldehyde (PF).
  
• Open windows after purchase of new wood products. Seal unfinished wood items with water-based polyurethane sealant (one that does not contain formaldehyde).
  
• Chose clothing and bedding that has not been treated with formaldehyde.
  
• Select formaldehyde-free cosmetics
  
• For more details on these and other solutions, visit the Children’s Health Environmental Coalition’s formaldehyde webpages
  

^{[1] US Department of Health and Human Services, Eleventh Report on Carcinogens, 2005
[2] Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry, ToxFAQs for Formaldehyde, 1999
[3] US Environmental Protection Agency, National Air Toxics Assessment (based on 1999 data)
[4] Environmental Defense “Scorecard” Pollution Locator <external link to www.scorecard.org>(based on 2002 Toxic Release Inventory)
[5] US Environmental Protection Agency, National Air Toxics Assessment, 2002}